As we head into spring, the melting snow and inevitable rain storms highlight the importance of flood plains. The benefits of floodplains go beyond providing natural erosion control and open space to reduce future flooding. Read more »

Years ago, scam artists perfected the use of Money Gram or Western Union wire transfers to bilk unsuspecting people out of money. Today, Green Dot MoneyPaks are the choice of scammers. MoneyPaks are a relatively new way of transferring money, and are available at more than 50,000 retailers nationwide.

The police department recently hosted its first ever Youth Police Academy for 13- to 16-year olds. Twenty students attended the five-hour classes each day for a week at different locations around town.

Students completed CPR and basic first-aid certifications at the fire department. They also learned about bullying, DUI investigation and drugs from assistant state’s attorneys at the Kane County Judicial Center, and participated in a mock trial. They even participated in hands-on exercises for crime-scene investigation and evidence collection at St.

Students from Haines Middle School learned about the value of natural areas and got a firsthand look at what it takes to care for our local parks on a recent day in May. They pulled weeds, cleared pathways, removed fallen branches and brush, replanted displaced specimens and spread mulch at Langum Woods.

This is the third year the kids have participated in the Langum Woods clean-up project. The effort is coordinated by the St. Charles Park District and the St.

The St. Charles Police Department will host its first ever Youth Police Academy June 10-14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The academy is open to kids ages 13-16 and will showcase careers in police and fire work, encourage team work, and grow self-esteem.Read more »